President Donald Trump has long accused journalists of spreading “fake news,” and he has often responded sharply when pressed on topics he finds uncomfortable. In recent weeks, one subject has repeatedly triggered some of his most heated exchanges with the press: his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his administration’s handling of Epstein-related investigative files.
Trump, who was reportedly friendly with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, has said he later cut ties with the financier and was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.
Air Force One exchange: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.”
During a Nov. 14 press gaggle aboard Air Force One while traveling from Washington, D.C., to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump was questioned about the Epstein files amid congressional pressure for the Justice Department to release remaining evidence.
When Bloomberg’s Catherine Lucey, who was off camera, asked whether there was anything “incriminating” in Epstein emails, Trump pointed his finger toward her and snapped: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.”
Lucey is not the first woman Trump has been accused of calling “Piggy.” Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who won the title at age 19 while Trump was a co-owner of the organization, has previously said Trump threatened to strip her of the crown after she gained weight.
“He was overwhelming, I was so scared of him,” Machado said in Spanish at the time. “He’d yell at me all the time. He’d tell me, ‘You look ugly,’ or ‘You look fat.’ Sometimes he’d ‘play’ with me and say: ‘Hello, Miss Piggy,’ ‘Hello, Miss Housekeeping.’ ”
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Four days later: Trump berates ABC’s Mary Bruce
Four days after the Air Force One exchange, Trump lashed out at another reporter while appearing at a press conference with the Saudi Crown Prince. ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked about the Epstein files, prompting Trump to attack both her approach and her credibility.
“You know, it’s not the question that I mind. It’s your attitude,” he told Bruce. “I think you are a terrible reporter. It’s the way you ask these questions…”
He continued later: “You’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter.” Turning back to the subject of Epstein, Trump said: “As far as the Epstein files, I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert.”
Trump also claimed, “People are wise to your hoax,” before appearing to threaten ABC’s broadcast license: “I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and is so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should look at that.”
During the extended back-and-forth, Trump told Bruce she “ought to go back and learn how to be a reporter,” and then said he was done taking her questions.
Latest target: CNN’s Kaitlan Collins
Most recently, Trump mocked CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins during a Tuesday, Feb. 3 press conference, after he displayed a new MAGA hat.
“Look, CNN is thrilled,” he said, before adding, “She never smiles. Someday I’ll see her smile.”
After allowing her to ask a question, Trump cut her off as she began: “What would you say to the survivors…” Collins started, before Trump interjected: “You are the worst reporter. No wonder CNN… CNN has no ratings because of people like you.”
He continued: “You know she’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. I’ve known you for 10 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.”
Collins pushed back: “Well I’m asking you about survivors.”
Trump replied: “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth. And you’re a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you.”
The Feb. 3 exchange followed earlier criticism from Trump. In December 2025, he called Collins “always stupid, and nasty” in a Truth Social post after she asked about the White House ballroom remodeling project, misspelling her name in the post.
White House defends the tone
The White House has stood by Trump’s insults in recent weeks, including his remark toward Lucey. In a Nov. 19 statement, a White House official defended the comments, saying in part: “If you’re going to give it, you have to be able to take.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that defense during a Nov. 20 briefing, framing the moment as an example of Trump’s blunt style.
“Look, the president is very frank & honest with everyone in this room,” she said. “You’ve all seen it yourselves. You’ve all experienced it yourselves. And I think it’s one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president, because of his frankness.”
